[tinerua]

I'm a newbie here so any help you can give would be GREATLY appreciated. I'm 27 years old and have 2 kids. When I was first married, I was on the pill (ortho tri cyclen and yasmin respectively) for about 2 years. I went off the pill due to anxiety and depression issues that I felt were linked to the pill. Now, over 5 years have passed and I haven't been on any sort of Hormonal birth control up until about 2 1/2 weeks ago.

After much deliberation, I decided to give the pill another try. My GP put me on Microlite, one of the lowest dose pills available. Within about a week I started having severe itching that started just around the outside of the vagina and has since spread to the vulva and anus as well. Initially, I thought it may have been thrush. I've never had thrush before but did a bit of research on it. Most of the symptoms matched except I don't have the white discharged commonly associated with thrush. I've tried mostly natural approaches at first (yogurt). It didn't seem to make a difference. I tried external thrush cream which made the itching and burning much much worse, especially around the anus.

Right now the only relieve I'm getting is by applying tea tree oil to the affected areas. I'm taking acidophilus and a B Complex to help re-balance out my system, because I'm afraid that this new pill is what's caused all this mess. I had really really good health before this. I eat well and exercise regularly. I really want to try and make this work with the pill since hubby and I are sick of condoms and would like the element of spontaneity in our love life again.

I am aware that I will likely have to go to my GP to sort this problem out if it doesn't go away soon. (I don't know if I can stand being woken up in the night by this bloody itching for much longer!) To be honest I kind of hate talking to my GP about this stuff because she tends to make me feel like a fool for asking questions. And I don't wanna waste my money to be made to feel like a fool if there is a chance I can sort this out myself!

I just wanted to see if any of ye women folk out there have had any problems with your BC pills in this regard first. I know there is a settling in period with the pill - usually up to 3 months for the body to get used to it. Has anyone else ever had this problem while on the pill? If so, what did you do about it? Will it go away if I can wait it out for a month or two?

Many many thanks in advance for your advice!

[simplynikki]

hun I would go see the gyn immediately. because even if someone here suggests something for you to try their symptooms and what they had might be completely different whereas you might have anything ranging from an allergic reaction to (god forbid) an std. plus remember that a woman's vagina can very easily get an infection even if the smallest amount of an oil or lotion goes inside. If you dont have the time to go in to see him/her I strongly urge you to at least call. most doctors will talk to their patients over the phone and if you go into detail with him/her then your doc may know whether or not you have to come in.

good luck

[CHANDLERS WISH]

I would immediately stop taking it, it obviously doesn't agree with your body and we women hate Thrush let alone extentions that go further to the rear so to speak that must be so hard for you.

Bathe in warm salt water, or put that into a cup and sit on the loo and douse yourself with it to help releave it.

If it is the pill, it should start getting less irritating by not taking it, maybe you need to try different birth control methods, instead of the pill.

You really don't have a choice but to go back and ask the Doctor what else you can do and how to get rid of this..

CW

[tinerua]

Thanks very much for your replies. I've booked to see the GP first thing tomorrow morning. I just wondered if anyone else had had this sort of problem while starting a new pill. I'm so annoyed about all of this. I held off on going back on the pill for so long because I felt rotten on it 5 years ago. (Different kind of rotten though....no itching...just emotional.)

Hubby and me finally decide to give it another go and I get this reaction on one of the lowest dose ones available. Perhaps I'm just not meant to be on the pill.

I totally understand why it's called Birth Control Pills now. Its because if it doesn't kill your libido or make feel like , it'll physically make your nether regions a completely hostile environment for ANY kind of sexual activity whatsoever!

[WildChild]

Stop taking it! Look into NON Hormonal options such as a PLAIN IUD or a diaphram. Obviously your body isn't just telling you - it's screaming at you - NO, don't give me this stuff.